thermometer question

mytank90 · #1 08-06-2009, 11:01 AM

i have a question about thermeters .i had a small digital one i didnt like and when and bought a larger one today .i have both in tank right now and probes in same location but they read 3 degrees different .one says tank is 77.5 other says 80.6 .which one should i belive?

wickedfrags · #2 08-06-2009, 12:05 PM

One is the air temperature and one is the water temperature. I believe the temp with OUT beside it is the water temperature, and IN the air temperature (but it has been a while since I owned one).

Check the instructions if you still have them (assuming they come with instructions).

Quote:

Originally Posted by mytank90

i have a question about thermeters .i had a small digital one i didnt like and when and bought a larger one today .i have both in tank right now and probes in same location but they read 3 degrees different .one says tank is 77.5 other says 80.6 .which one should i belive?

Snaz · #3 08-06-2009, 12:14 PM

Borrow a third thermometer or take your two to the LFS and compare. If the one you like is out by 3 degrees then you can still continue to use it as long as you remember the display is out by three degrees and add/subtract for a true result.

fishytime · #4 08-06-2009, 12:50 PM

Seems like the vast majority of digital thermometers are "off" a bit.....double check your temp with an old fashioned glass thermometer.

Barrett.Oliver · #5 08-06-2009, 01:58 PM

I second the motion for using a glass thermometer.... Had problems with the digital meter I started with.

kien · #6 08-06-2009, 02:35 PM

Hehe, I never trust just one thermometer.. I have three, two different styles of glass and a digital one. All three are slightly different. I take an average of the three

scherzo · #7 08-06-2009, 03:35 PM

I had (for a little bit) a digital, 2 glass, and a hand held spot thermometer.

They all varied differently by about 4 degrees! I hated it. So just so I don't second guess myself anymore. I just trust one glass one.

fkshiu · #8 08-06-2009, 05:40 PM

If you don't have a fever do the following:

Clean both thoroughly.

Put the probes/thermometer under your tongue and wait.

They should read 98.6 degrees F.

Gives new meaning to "self-calibrating".

Snaz · #9 08-06-2009, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fkshiu

If you don't have a fever do the following:

Clean both thoroughly.

Put the probes/thermometer under your tongue and wait.

They should read 98.6 degrees F.

Gives new meaning to "self-calibrating".

That cracks me up! The science is good though.

PoonTang · #10 08-06-2009, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fkshiu

If you don't have a fever do the following:

Clean both thoroughly.

Put the probes/thermometer under your tongue and wait.

They should read 98.6 degrees F.

Gives new meaning to "self-calibrating".

I think if you put it "in the OTHER end" it will be more accurate.